Diverse Europe

Our lives today are diverse and complex as never before. We are inhabitants of our city as well as our country, our continent and the world. Adding one's culture, religion and likings, the picture of Europe as the home of 500 million of diverse and complex identities draws itself in front of our eyes.

We are all different. Not a single European shares the same language, life and reality with someone else. It is this difference that makes the European project unique. Not only is it based on the narrative of enemies becoming friends, of reconciliation and of dignity, it also provides a framework for finding compromises with different ethnicities over the most pressing issues.

Is it values and rights that make us citizens of Europe? For me the following holds true: being European is not only about enjoying rights, but also about a commitment to accepting difference and learning from one's mistakes. Europe stands for diversity and equality: those values are what connect us and prove to be our biggest assets for the future.

In this light I made the following video fusing pictures i made in eight different European countries with a motivational monologue. The music comes from my greek friend Silo-con.

Diverse Europe - eine fotografische Reise durch meine letzten Jahre gelebt in verschiedenen Europäischen Ländern. Bilder wie Text sollen meine Idee der Kernfaszination des Europäischen Projekts illustrieren: Europa ist ein Kontinent der Aufgrund seiner Vielfalt und der Akzeptanz dieser überzeugt. Europäer sein, ist deshalb eine positive Verpflichtung interkulturelle Kompetenz zu erlangen und aus den Fehlern der Vergangenheit zu lernen.